Civic Cat Fight Over Tiger Woods

A civic cat fight over Tiger Woods?

Yup, and it erupted after some remarks by Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill at a golf clinic conducted by Woods. O’Neill noted that the visiting celeb played on Long Beach courses as a youth and, although she had trouble pronouncing his name, the mayor exclaimed:

“Tiger Wood belongs to the world. But today, from today on, and in the past, Tiger Wood belongs to Long Beach.”

That prompted a sarcastic editorial in the Los Alamitos News-Enterprise, which covers Cypress, where Wood--excuse me, Woods--attended school.

Using O’Neill’s logic, the paper said, “if we live here in northwest Orange County and we have visited the Queen Mary . . . we can claim that famous ship as our communities’ own.”

The News-Enterprise speculated about other Long Beach attractions worth claiming, but concluded, “Gosh, there isn’t anything else.”

FINISHING OUT OF THE MONEY: You can’t blame Cypress for being a bit sensitive about recognition. After all, the most famous business in the city is inexplicably named the Los Alamitos Racetrack.

PRESENTING THE OFFICIAL TUXEDO OF CARSON! Is it a tacky commercial by a newly elected mayor--or a cost-saving convenience for constituents?

That’s the question surrounding Carson Mayor Daryl Sweeney’s inclusion of a tuxedo offer in invitations to his inaugural bash (see accompanying).

A city official said that some residents had phoned City Hall, wondering about the propriety of the offer.

But Mike Mitoma, who lost to Sweeney, laughed it off, saying: “It’s weird, but everything in Carson’s weird.”

Sweeney, who said he was merely helping people get a discount, added he hadn’t even heard of Gary’s (the only tux shop in Carson) until inaugural planning began. (The city clerk’s office said Gary’s was not listed on Sweeney’s latest filing of campaign contributors.)

The mayor questioned how The Times came into possession of an invitation, adding, “No one invited you guys.”

Now I don’t have to rent a tux.

CASTING AN EYE OUT TO SEA: Toni Ermini of Burbank, submitter of one of two swimming items (see accompanying), found a rental listing agency that is looking for vacancies underwater.

I wonder if any of the searchers have run into prospective lifeguards on extreme marathon swims, a qualification brought to my attention by Harriet Klein of Palm Springs.

HOPE SHE DOESN’T WIND UP WITH EGG ON HER FACE: In Hollywood, David Eichman spotted a marquee for a film about a young woman who confides her romantic longings to her cows (see photo).

AND HOW WAS YOUR DAY? Doug Hays of Glendale passed along an item from the La Canada Valley Sun about a man who was cited by sheriff’s deputies “for parking over 18 inches from the curb and displaying the registration tag from his motor home on his car. As he was moving his vehicle closer to the curb, he accidentally backed into the deputy’s car, denting it. He was further cited for unsafe backing.”

miscelLAny:

Toni Mattis of Sunland saw a sign that said “Deja Vu Totally Nude Showgirls,” which raises a question. Do the strip joint’s owners really want to imply that if you’ve seen one naked showgirl, you’ve seen them all?

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Steve Harvey can be reached at (800) LATIMES, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A., 90012 and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.